Chapter 14 A Slave
❀ Maeve ❀
It felt like being paraded.
Mother had explained this part to me. She’d said the matrons would test us for compatibility with the pack bond, as well as illness, disease, or curse—to protect IronWolf from outsiders.
A pair of girls, IronWolf pack members by the looks of their clean clothes and airy countenance, giggled as they walked by.
“I heard he’ll be in attendance tonight. He was never interested in finding a mate before now. No… like ever!”
“I’ll be sure to attend then. Imagine being mated to the smoldering hot Lycan!”
What Lycan? Alpha Mordane was the only Lycan alive. He’d lost his brother, the only other one, to the Crimson War.
Would the alpha attend the ceremony for a second-chance mate? Could I, in fact, snag him?
I wish.
The soldiers turned us onto an unlit path, and soon, we came to a structure that resembled a greenhouse.
It was lit with a single large oil lamp in the ceiling. Its light scattered through carved glass, sending shapes dancing over the leaves.
As soon as we’d been herded in, the soldiers all turned and left.
A soft breeze blew over my skin, increasing the foreboding feeling.
“Changing your mind?”
Without turning, I said to Elara, “Not a chance.”
Even if it felt like we’d been delivered for a sacrifice, I’d see this through to the end.
Then a door on the opposite end opened, and more orange light flooded in behind the figures walking in.
Each one held a small candle on a glistening gold plate. They fanned out, standing side by side.
Three elderly women, faces severe, stared us down.
The Matrons.
“Come forward,” the one in the center ordered. Glossed black beads shimmered around her neck. They pulsed with a strange power.
Elara pushed past me and walked the short distance. Confident, spine straight, she stopped in front of them.
A cloud of powder exploded around Elara. She stood unmoving.
A draft blew, spreading the powdered scent of sage and bay leaf.
Silence.
After what felt like a long time but was only a few seconds, they spoke. “Go left.”
Elara glanced left, bowed her head to the Matrons, and walked off among the plants to the left.
Carmella pushed forward next. Powder rained on her.
“Right.”
Girl after girl went, elbows striking my arms as they passed one after the other. And I just stood, frozen.
What did the directions mean? Carmella and Elara were the two most beautiful girls in my opinion. Why were they given different directions?
Which one meant you’re kicked out?
Sweat dotted my forehead.
My heart pounded.
“Come forward, girl.” A voice snapped, impatient.
No one pushed past me. I looked behind me. I was the last one standing.
Leaden legs carried me closer.
Powder rained on me. I blinked furiously.
The women didn’t speak. Then the one on the right stepped closer. My mouth dried—they hadn’t stepped close to the other girls.
Gods, they sensed I was wolfless. Sensed my weakness. Surely they’d turn me away.
“So much rage,” said the first.
“No conduit,” a pitying sigh from the third.
“An echo. A slave,” snarled the second.
Then they both pointed. “Go left.”
The word hit harder than I expected. A slave? Of what?
With a hasty bow and a tug on my basket, I slipped left, toward a door that hadn’t been visible from the entrance, and pushed it open.
I gasped.
There, at the end of the room, sat the same three women I’d just left, seated on low stools.
My stomach dropped. Hadn't I just left them? Ironwolf was rumored to hate sorcery of any kind. This was definitely out of the ordinary.
A girl approached them from the line.
“Lift your skirts,” the one in the middle ordered.
And again, girl after girl walked up to the Matrons, and had their underwear checked. Or at least, that’s what it looked like.
My turn came.
I lifted my dress before I was told to.
The woman crudely grasped my waist, pressing and feeling as if mapping the location or presence of my organs.
I wondered what the exact purpose of this was. And if they only took so much care with rogues.
And did they examine the males who came to IronWolf for business or travel? Or were females the only ones to endure this prodding?
Satisfied, she drew her arms away.
At least it hadn’t been invasive. I sighed and moved away.
After the last girl was examined, a young lady with a sleek, dark bun appeared from yet another door.
She smiled cheerily. “Follow me, ladies. The ceremony is about to start.”
Out of about twenty-five girls who’d entered the greenhouse, only seven of us followed this energetic lady through long, winding corridors.
We walked for so long I was sure we’d left the greenhouse far behind.
I shivered in the chilly draft. Normal wolves could regulate their temperature, which meant I was probably the only one shivering.
I cursed my weakness, vowing to find a mate so I could discover my wolf from our bond, if I was fated to have one. Or both. My mate, and my wolf.
We came to a carved marble door and walked out into the most beautiful scene I’d ever seen.
A glistening stream cut through the shrubs, mere feet from the door. Large fireflies blinked little green orbs of light all around the colorful night flowers and plants.
The water reflected the high, silvery moon.
“It’s… beautiful,” I breathed.
We all gawked.
Blackbridge was mainly sickly trees and collapsed houses. The smell of ashes and fear always hung thickly in the air.
But here, IronWolf was so different.
“Wash yourselves, dress, and wait for me. I’ll return for you after I’ve prepared as well,” our guide said.
Just as she turned to leave, I raised my voice.
“Wait, ma’am.”
She turned.
“You said the ceremony is almost starting. How late are we?”
“Fashionably.” She winked and laughed, the sound tinkling in the open space.
I shrugged.
She was in charge. She undoubtedly knew best.
I hurriedly occupied a spot that provided a little cover, then washed myself with scoops of the surprisingly lukewarm water.
Pulling the glass bottles out, I realized I’d forgotten to use the candle-shaped scent before meeting the Matrons.
Shit.
I had no idea what it was supposed to have done, but I’d made it without the scent.
The oval-shaped one rolled in my second hand. For the ceremony.
I should probably use a little of both, no sense wasting what Mother had prepared for me.
I slathered the lighter-looking ointment first. A fruity, calming scent rose but dissipated almost immediately. I followed up with the thicker one, the one for the ceremony.
It smelled divine. Smoky and sultry, but with softer, indistinguishable notes. It made me want to hunt down the sweet-smelling source.
Well played, Mother.
Then I unpacked my dress.
Oh how it shined. Not blinding, but lulling. Seductive. Regal.
I stepped into the fabric, secured the ties at my hips, and found trouble with the corset.
There was no way I could secure them myself.
No time.
I picked up my basket and stepped out of the shrubs.
All eyes turned to me.
Elara whistled. “Now, girl. I know you didn’t just bring a sword to a fist fight.”
I frowned.
“This isn’t a competition. We’ll each attract our mates and only our mates.”
“With that dress, all our mates would pick you over us,” she insisted, exaggerating.
Elara seemed to be complimenting me without vim, but I noted the jealous looks from the other girls. I hated being the center of attention.
I rolled my eyes. “Whatever, just help me with this, please?”
She smirked and moved behind me. I felt her thread the lace. “How tight?”
“As tight as it’ll go.”
This was the first dress I ever owned that showed off my cleavage. I was going to weaponize my every arsenal.
Elara attempted to crack my ribs with the corset, then she tied it off.
“Your dress is stunning,” I told her. It was.
Satin black with her slim thighs on display, she wore it like a siren.
“Why, thank you…”
The door swung open. Our guide from before peeked out.
“It’s time.”
I used the opportunity to untie my washed and wrapped hair from the drying cloth. The platinum waves tumbled down my back.
Staying close to Elara, we all filed in behind our guide.
Dressed up as well, she walked briskly ahead of us.
We passed another corridor, and suddenly a handful of new girls poured out, joining us.
All dressed up prettily in seductive, even carnal pieces, the girls chittered and laughed amongst themselves.
“Oh look, we got new flowers,” one said with glee.
“And they’re so very pretty.”
“Congratulations on passing the Matrons’ tests,” the closest one to me tittered.
“Thank you, are you pack members?”
“Pack members? No. But we’re something even better, something you’re now a part of.” She winked.
“What’s that?”
“We, my dear, are the entertainment.” She pressed both hands to her boobs, jiggling them excitedly.
“Entertainment,” I repeated dumbly.
Up ahead, the low rumbles of male voices and music sifted through two large, steel-plated double doors.
“Yes. Since you passed the Matrons, then it means you could find your mate tonight. But if you don’t, you are qualified to entertain the unmated males!”